Sometimes graceful

always life-enhancing,

often battered, bombed or broken -

bridges.

Hard to build, easy to destroy,

Years in the growing, rubble

in the time it takes

for an eye to widen.

 

An unforseen weakness,

a thoughtless moment,

an attack, neglect,

or simply being asked to carry

too much weight.

 

Wilder knew it was futile

to ask why a bridge falls.

The moment of destruction

is a bookmark in life's story,

but the page refuses to be read.

 

Look after the bridges.

Guard and protect them,

their traffic is our life.

 

Cf 'The Bridge of San Luis Rey' by Thornton Wilder